Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-12-29
BUYING FOR CASH.
A Most Important Point in the Family
Training of Children.

| A Most Important Point in the Family
| Training of Children.
Archdeacon Paley said that he fur
nished the ladies of his family with
ready money for their shopping; it was
such a check upon the Imagination.
Persons who are familiar with the re-
tail trade will. upon this theory. con-
cede that the buying world has grown
less imaginative than formerly. The
proportion paid over shop counters has
become much larger than in the old
| times. though there is yet room to
make it larger. The labor and ex-
pense of bookkeeping have been very
much 1essened and its processes
simplified. OF course there are rela-
| tons between the retailers and certain
of their customers in which the old
habit of credit is still followed, yet,
| as q rule, ''monthly statements" are
rendered. Payments within thirty
days is by mercantile the fiction ac-
counted "cash."
The demand for currency is not ma
terially lessened by the giving of
credit in small transactions. There is
enough Of currency in circulation to
enable all retail trade to be done
through the medium of actual cash.
cash down. The ladies'. who get value
for their money, know what they want.
and seek till they find it. unbound by
any condition. expressed or implied,
to buy at particular places. The
actual value of the commodity is the
only question considered. Buyer and
seller are mutually pleased with their
bargain. an both are benefited.
There is a moral as we'll as an eco
nomic aspect in retail transactions.
Where the indefinite limits-or no
limits-of an open account exist the
buyer does not always consider the
obligation of debt. The seller. on his
side. may regard himself entitled to
an overcharge, to cover waiting or
other contingencies. The casual buyer
on credit, at retail, has little oppor-
tunity to cheaper. The buyer for cash
has little need. She holds the advan-
tage in her hand. for holding the cash
she knows that the seller desires his
money quite rs much as she covets her
merchandise. He will not readily lose
an opportunity for good sale, COM
pleted at once.
But the worst form of credit is where
the several members of family, young
and old, and domestics as we'll rs the
employers. are all permitted to order
goods and have them charged.
Many family disputes and more ex-
pressions of surprise come up with the
unexpected amount of the account
rendered. 1t is sometimes unhappily
the case that actual dishonesty occurs.
and it occasionally happens that ex-
travagance is the result of an 'open
account" In moral sense all pur-
chases fall below the standard of
strict integrity when the buyer is
not fairly sure of his ability to
pay within reasonable time. If he is
looking for future receipts. and the
seller is made to understand this and
is willing to take the risk, the trade is
fair enough. But the debtor then be-
comes subject 10 the forbearance of the
seller. and may. if he defaults, be
charged with dishonesty.
In the family training of children
one of the most important things to be
taught by practice. as well as precept,
is strict honesty, and this can not be
where debt is not regarded as seri-
Gus obligation. Nothing is too small
to be regarded in the question of prop
erty. and no liberties should be taken
and no evasions or secrecy be permit
ted, even in little transactions. The
beginning of great wrongs is in
tritling errors. The child in whose
way penny is not safe may become a
dan gerous man when dollars tempt
him. philadelphia Ledger.